rabbitt



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.I a M 2 SheetsSheet 1,

J. H; RABBITT. TROLLEY.

Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

MM w AN DREW B GRAHAM. PHO'I'O-LITHQWASKI NGTCHL DYC ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ll. RABBITT, OF VVETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 01F ONE-HALFTO DANIEL F. MURPHY, OF SAME PLACE.

TROLLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,741, dated April21, 1896. Application filed Gotober 10, 1895. Serial No. 565,256. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES II. RABBITT, of lVethersfield, in the countyof Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Trolleys, which improvements are described in thefollowing specification and are illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to that class of trolleys which are used inelectric railroading for the purpose of maintaining a closed-circuitconnection between the motor which is carried by the car and thetrolley-wire which accompanies the track. The same relates moreparticularly to mechanism which is attached to the free end of atrolley-pole for'the purpose of maintaining a continual electricalcontact between the trolley-pole and the trolley-wire.

It is the object of my invention to render such contact certain andconstant. To accom plish this object I use a trolley-pole, which ismounted upon the car in the usual manner; a bar, which is centrallypivoted to the free end of the trolley-pole; two contactwheels, whichare carried by the opposite ends of said bar, respectively, and anadjustable spring acting between such bar and trolleypole.

WVith reference to these structural elements it is the particular objectof my invention, first, to secure such an alternative action of the twocontact-wheels that both of them cannot leave the wire at one and thesame time, and, second, to impart to one of those wheels an unusualsensitiveness and promptitude in following the ups and downs of thewire.

The best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principles of myinvention is illustrated by said drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my improved trolley in operative contact with atrolleywire. Only the upper portion of the trolleypole is shown in thisfigure, and parts of the mechanism are removed for the purpose ofshowing the construction. Fig. 2 is a like elevation of the lowerportion of the trolleypole with its attachments.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the trolley-pole, which is of anyordinary construction, and for convenience may be bent at 13 and above,as shown.

The numeral 15 in Fig. 2 denotes the top of an electric car, to whichbracket 16 is attached in the usual manner. In this bracket pole 1 isfixed in the usual vibratory manner by pivot 17, and is provided with aspring or set of springs 18, tending to raise the free end of the poletoward the trolley-wire 12, all in the usual manner.

The actuating-spring 18 may be formed and applied in any preferredmanner for the purpose of imparting to pole 1 the necessary tendencytoward a vertical position.

The free end of pole 1 is split so as to have two parallel cheeks 2, ofwhich but one is shown in the drawings. Between these two cheeks ispivoted, by pin 5, a crescent-shaped or bent bar 4, having two arms 6and 7, to whose free ends are pivoted in the usual manner twoperipherally-grooved contact-wheels 8 and 9, respectively. Pole 1 isalso provided with a socket 3, which is located just below checks 2 inthe position shown. In this socket is seated a spring 10, which isattached to arm 7, is provided with an adjusting-screw 11, and exerts acontinual effort to deflect arm 7 toward pole 1. The tension of thisspring is such that under normal conditions of smooth running wheel 8 isheld up to a position of constant and full engagement with wire 12,while wheel 9 is held partly, but not fully, separated from that wire.The described position of these wheels relative to the trolleywire isshown in Fig. 1, where that wire is shown running in the bottom of thegroove in wheel 8 and in the outer part of the corresponding groove inWheel 9.

The arrow 14 denotes the direction in which the trolley is representedas moving.

Such being the construction of my improved trolley, its peculiar mode ofoperation remains to be described. Trolley-pole 1, being actuated byspring 18, which is carried by the car, tends to lift both wheels 8 and9 into full contact and engagement with wire 12, while spring 3 actuatesbar 4111 such a manner that wheel 9 tends to separate from that wire. Asthe result of these two tendencies, wheel 8 tends constantly to a i'ulland complete engagement with the trolley-wire, and wheel 9 tends to theabove-described partial engagement therewith, which is illustrated inthe drawings. By means of the adjustingscrew 11 the tension of spring 3is so regulated that under ordinary conditions of smooth running thesaid wheels severally engage the trolley-wire in precisely the describedmanner. In case of any considerable undulation either of the car or ofthe wire the trolley-pole and the wire are either brought slightlynearer together or are carried slightly farther apart. In the formercase bar 4 turns slightly upon pivot 5 and wheel 9 is carried up intofull engagement with the wire, so that the wire is then fully engaged byboth wheels. In the latter case bar 4 turns pivotally in the oppositedirection,so that wheel 8 promptly follows the wire, while wheel 9 isseparated from it. manner the length of the trolley-pole may besupplemented by the entire length of arm 6. If any sudden depression inthe wire, or any solder, or any guy attachment, or any other dependentobstruction upon the wire passes over wheel 8, the latter, beingsuddenly depressed, presses arm 6 downward, throws up arm 7, and thusmay complete for the moment a complete engagement between the wire andWheel 9. In the same manner the depression of either wheel forces theother up against the wire, and these several adjustments of the trolleyto thewire by the pivotal movement of bar 4, being independent of theinertia of pole 1, are instantaneous. My invention therefore presentsthese advantages-namcl y, that by the alternative action of thecontact-wheels the circuit is maintained by one wheel or the other atall times, so that the wire is not lost, and that, by reason of In thisthe lightness of bar 4 and its proximity to the trolley-wire, thecontact-wheel 8 is able to follow the absolute and relativeirregularities of that wire with unexampled promptitude.

Such being the construction and operation of my invention, I claim- 1.An electric trolley,consisting of a springactuated pole, a bar, which iscentrally piv-' oted to the free end of said pole, and two 0011-tact-wheels, which are respectively pivoted to the opposite ends of saidbar, and are pressed toward the trolley-wire by the action of saidspring-actuated pole, in combination with a spring, which is locatedbetween said pole and said bar, and assists the said action of saidspring-actuated pole as to one of said contact-wheels, and opposes thesaid action of said pole as to the other of said wheels, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

2. An electric trolley,consisting of a springactuated pole, a bar, whichis centrally pivoted to the free end of said pole, and twocontact-wheels, which are respectively pivoted to the opposite ends ofsaid bar, and are pressed toward the trolley-wire by the action of saidspring-actuated pole, in combination with a spring, which is locatedbetween said pole and said bar, is provided with tension-adj ustingmechanism, and assists the said action of said spring-actuated pole asto one of said contact-wheels, and opposes the said action of said poleas to the other of said wheels, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my name in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES H. RABBITT. Vitnesses:

WILLARD EDDY, JOHN II. BROCKLESBY.

